Color Of Change: FTC and Congress Can and Must Take Further Action

NEW YORK – In response to the Federal Trade Commission’s fine on Facebook of up to $5 billion, Color Of Change’s Senior Campaign Director Brandi Collins-Dexter issued the following statement:

“For too long, Facebook has been able to avoid scrutiny, regulation, and accountability by skillfully deceiving the public and convincing officials that they are capable of self-regulation. The FTC’s decision to fine Facebook up to $5 billion is the result of years of advocates highlighting the company’s failures, while also pushing the FTC to exercise more of its authority.

We hope this news from the FTC signals a shift in urgency and severity of punishment that the regulatory agency will take against Facebook and other social media platforms that fail to put the rights and protections of users above profits.

In a healthy democracy, corporations should face consequences for violating the public trust. The FTC, and Congress, can and must take further action, especially to curtail discrimination on Facebook against Black users and users from marginalized communities. We call on Congress to create and fund a new Data Protection Agency to add capacity and urgency for oversight of technology companies.”

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